Red lentil & smoked mackerel kitchri recipe
oily fish – delicious, convenient (particularly tinned and smoked) and rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to help reduce visceral fat. In a 2022 study, overweight participants were divided into two groups.
The group who were given daily omega-3 supplements lost more abdominal fat mass over 12 weeks than the group that wasn’t.
Instead of being made with only rice, as is traditional, I mix in red lentils, which increases the fibre and protein content, to aid that all-important appetite control. I make a batch of this most weeks because it works for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and it keeps wonderfully in the fridge for a couple of days. Top with a dollop of thick Greek yogurt for extra tang and gut-friendly probiotics.
Servings:
Two
Course:
Main Course, Apetizer, Snacks, Lunch
Cuisine:
Asian
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil or coconut oil
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp nigella seeds
- 1 tbsp mild curry powder
- 3 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp ground turmeric
- 2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- a splash of water
- 100g red lentils, rinsed
- 500ml vegetable stock
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cinnamon stick, broken in 2
- 2 eggs
- 125g cooked basmati rice or 1⁄2 a pouch ready-cooked rice
- 150g smoked mackerel fillets, flaked
- juice of 1⁄2 a lemon
- sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper
- coriander leaves, to serve
- lemon wedges, to serve
Method:
- Heat the 1 tbsp olive oil or coconut oil in a large frying pan, add the 1 tsp mustard seeds and 1 tsp nigella seeds and fry for a couple of minutes, taking care not to burn them.
- Add the remaining ground spices and Spice Mix and fry for a further 30 seconds.
- Add the 1 small red onion (finely chopped) with a splash of water and fry gently for 2–3 minutes until softened.
- Stir in the 100g red lentils (rinsed) and coat with the fragrant spice mixture, then add the 500ml vegetable stock, 1 bay leaf and 1 cinnamon stick (broken in 2).
- Bring to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes until the lentils are tender.
- Meanwhile, cook the 2 eggs in a small saucepan of simmering water for 10 minutes until hard-boiled, then plunge into a bowl of cold water and leave to cool. Peel and quarter the eggs.
- Stir the cooked rice into the lentils, then add the 150g smoked mackerel fillets (flaked) and gently heat through.
- Add the juice of 1⁄2 a lemon and season.
- Spoon the kitchri into two bowls and top with the hard-boiled eggs. Scatter with coriander leaves, season with pepper and serve with lemon wedges.
Instead of being made with only rice, as is traditional, I mix in red lentils, which increases the fibre and protein content, to aid that all-important appetite control. I make a batch of this most weeks because it works for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and it keeps wonderfully in the fridge for a couple of days. Top with a dollop of thick Greek yogurt for extra tang and gut-friendly probiotics.